Matthew Mak, DTM

Member Since: 2015
Home Region: 14
Home District: 67
Supporting Districts: 67, 75, 76, 85, 88, 89, 93, 118

Toastmasters offices held and terms of service (international, region and District level):

• 2020-2021 Immediate Past District Director
• 2019-2020 District Director
• 2018-2019 Club Growth Director

What is your understanding of the Region Advisor role and how does your experience relate to the role?

A Region Advisor is there to provide his or her experience to District leaders and being there for them during their triumphs and struggles to provide them with encouragement and support. Region Advisors work with District leaders to ensure that their Districts are serving the members, encouraging clubs to strive for excellence, and promoting the benefits of Toastmasters. Region Advisors also help mediate conflicts that may occur so that differences can be resolved and not impede the District from achieving its goal and mission.

Throughout my leadership journey at club, division, and District levels, I have worked with many different individuals. I have learned to listen and communicate different points of views and helped to mediate toward reaching consensus. In my career as an educator, I have worked with colleagues and students at various levels, helping to guide them through different challenges, avoid pitfalls, and achieve their short term and long-term goals.

I am a person who is passionate, committed, energetic, and connect well with others.

What is your experience with coaching individuals and/or teams?

In my Toastmasters leadership journey, I have been a mentor to members, clubs, club sponsors and mentors, as well as District leaders. I have shared my experience in both best practices and pitfalls to help them avoid repeating the same mistakes as well as my club building experiences. In addition, I have continued to help new members with their Pathways learning experience and club officers with acclimating to their roles.

At work, I work with individuals to help them with their language learning. It has included helping them to work around their other priorities, establish good learning habits, and also helping them overcome difficulties and obstacles. When I was tasked with developing the online Japanese department, I communicated with publishers and our sales team, recruited, and trained new teachers, and shared our vision, goals, and my own online teaching experience. I also made sure to follow up with them after they were on-board, to ensure that they were adapting well to the online teaching environment and checked to see if they had any questions or concerns.

Why are you interested in serving as Region Advisor?

During my terms as Club Growth Director and District Director, I found the support and advice from my Region Advisors to be really encouraging and helpful. They were there to listen to not only my triumphs, but also my struggles. I would now like to do the same for our District leaders, sharing my own experiences, providing a listening ear, and providing them with encouragement and support. I would also like to take the opportunity to learn and grow with District leaders and other Region Advisors, thus expanding my cross-cultural understanding and horizons.